Which Came First: Statins or Type 2 Diabetes?

High cholesterol kills us right? We should be careful about the amount of fat we eat and saturated fat like butter and streaky bacon (yum) is a guilty pleasure and we really shouldn’t be eating it too often.

You go regularly and get your cholesterol levels checked and end up in a cold sweat if they are too high. Your doctor might have recommended dietary changes and handed you a prescription for statins.

Statins are one of the most commonly prescribed drugs worldwide and looks to stay at the top of the tree with UK and USA Governments recommending wider prescribing of these drugs.

Statins are routinely prescribed for type 2 diabetics to protect them from cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in type 2 diabetics and is a very serious issue.

Statins and Type 2 Diabetes

Something that isn’t spoken about much when it comes to statins is that they increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes–yes you read that right! Statins reduce sensitivity to insulin and increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.

The company funded research let us know that statins increase the risk of healthy users becoming type 2 diabetic by 10-20%. That sounds like quite a big risk but new research paints an even bleaker picture.

What if I told you that is underestimated and new research shows the risk of developing type 2 diabetes for a healthy person is 46%?

The study followed 8,749 participants aged between 45-73 years. They were followed for just under 6 years. The researchers found that statin use increased the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 46%. That’s a massive increase in risk.

They found that insulin sensitivity was decreased by 24% and insulin secretion increased by 12% in individuals on statin treatment compared with individuals without statin treatment.

The research team reported: “The association of statin use with increased risk of developing diabetes is most likely directly related to statins decreasing both insulin sensitivity and secretion.”

Cholesterol and Statins

There is no question that statins reduce cholesterol levels effectively. The question is does lowering cholesterol help? The evidence would suggest no. In the biggest analysis of statin trials they found that lifespan was increased on average by 3 days, yes, just 3 days.

There is one section of people that do benefit and that is people that have had a previous heart attack – statin use demonstrates a protective effect. Here’s the thing though, it doesn’t help via lowering cholesterol, statins help these patients because it has a side effect of lowering inflammation.

Inflammation plays a big role in active heart disease and reducing this is what provides protection.

In fact 75% of people showing up in emergency rooms with heart attacks will have normal cholesterol levels.

Statins: Do They Work?

When it comes to prescription medicines it is all about therapeutic effect. The benefit must outweigh the risks. Patients and doctors need to be aware of the issues, both good and bad of the drugs prescribed.

In an editorial written for the Prescriber Journal Dr Aseem Malhotra, honorary consultant cardiologist Frimley Park Hospital, in Surrey, Professor James McCormack, professor at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vancouver, and Professor David Newman, director of clinical research at Department of Emergency Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York stated:

“Less than 1 in every 200 people who took a statin lived longer because of it,” they write, highlighting studies which show that even among those with a history of heart disease or stroke, the figure is 1 per cent.

Muscle aches seem to occur in approximately 5–10 per cent who take a statin but it is not always easy to know if these are truly caused by the statin”

Many experts believe the side effect rate is higher than stated in industry sponsored studies which state side effects are uncommon. They have found that 20% of people experience adverse side effects including muscle pain, diarrhea, blurred vision, memory loss, and erectile dysfunction.

Aspirin is Just as Good as Statins

Yes, you read that right. A study published in the British Medical Journal showed that aspirin was as effective as statins at a fraction of the cost. When I say a fraction I mean it. Treatment with aspirin is 20 times cheaper than with statins. Aspirin has a much better side effect profile too, none of the risks of dementia, diabetes, or muscle aches and pains.

The Bottom Line:

Statins increase the risk of a healthy person developing type 2 diabetes by a massive 46%

The only section of the population that shows benefits of statins are those that have active heart disease and have had a heart attack or stroke.

Statins appear to have a higher incidence of side effects than stated in studies.

Mary has worked with type 2 diabetics for over 20 years. She is determined to turn the type 2 tide by giving people the information at FreeFromType2.com that they really need to make the best choices for them. She knows that a diet sheet and a prescription isn't the answer. Mary is on a mission to eradicate complications for type 2 diabetics. Download Mary's FREE GUIDE to help you take charge of your diabetes and your health.